Anyone can make jewelry, you don't have to go to school. For the cleverest designs, you just have to think outside the box!

May 27, 2016

It doesn't matter if you like vintage jewelry or not. These days many people are into recycling, upcycling, redesigning, and taking apart old pieces to make something else. I've done plenty of it myself!

I first got interested in the assemblage or collage art form many years ago, several years after I started picking and selling vintage jewelry. There were always broken pieces to throw back, and I saw photos of things people were making from broken jewelry. There were articles in VICTORIA magazine, one of my favorites! about memory jewelry and recreating wearable things from bits of the past.

And then.....one of my vintage customers told me about Wendy Gell. When I first saw Wendy's jewelry, I was mesmerized. She happened to be in just the right place, just the right time in history for her collaged 'wristies" and funky big brooches to make it big in the fashion design business.

This is a custom bridal wristy made by Wendy Gell. Beautiful work! Totally unique to the world of jewelry design when she began decades ago, nowadays we see work like this all the time on the internet. Wendy Gell is not the first assemblage jewelry artist to walk this earth, but she IS, for me, the beginning of art jewelry collage in this style, in more modern times. If it weren't for Wendy, many of us probably would still be making tree collages out of Gramma's old earrings. She got the world to pay attention and made assemblage jewelry high fashion! Wendy Gell's jewelry appeared in Vogue and on the Vogue cover numerous times.

There are pieces of Wendy Gell's work in the Smithsonian. They are considered part of pop culture.

AMAZING! And then....there is the other Wendy, Wendy Baker:

Wendy Baker is a responsible repurposer. She creates most of her vintage flower jewelry from vintage parts, not pieces that have been broken down. Her work is bold and inspirational, and much of her work is done with cold connections like wire and jump rings, rather than glue. I love her work and I love Wendy. I'd love to spend a day creating with her. We've both got it on our bucket lists!

What does it mean to be a responsible repurposer?

I used to write for a leading vintage jewelry publication, in fact I did so for eight years. I had my own column. At the end of my articles, I would always sign off with, "May the jools of your dreams land in your lap and only cost you five bucks!"

Hey, we all want to find stuff to work with and make money without having to fork over a lot! For many the latest flea market has become another sort of crafts store. It's a great place to find bags of busted stuff, bits of this and that for jewelry making! And pretty pieces of old jewelry. Yard, tag and estate sales are another brilliant resource for those things.

But just because the items were cheap, missing stones or needing a great cleaning, or are just OLD, does not mean they should automatically be fodder for your next jewelry creation. Is a new stash of vintage jewelry your new artistic playground?

It could be! It also might be the source of a new income stream that will get you far more money than randomly taking pieces and breaking them down for parts.

AND THAT is what RESPONSIBLE REPURPOSING 101 is all about. Wouldn't you like to learn to identify pieces that may have great value? Don't think you won't find any! It happens all the time! Sometimes all you need is a few minutes on the internet to learn about your piece, get it ready to sell, and find a buyer. There are avid collectors of the old pieces who are willing to pay good money for what you find! In many cases, they may pay you more money than you would make cabbaging parts and making new assemblage pieces.

Who doesn't need money for good tools, storage equipment, a show tent, supplies, adequate branding for their artisan lines? Who couldn't use a few extra bucks to supplement family income? I assure you: You CAN get it this way. This is an adventure in learning that you definitely want to be serious about, and a journey you want to take.

I know because I did it.

This is exactly how a poor young mother was able to trade a tiny mobile home for a modest house, and buy a decent car instead of enduring a very old one that broke down all the time.

It is how she bought diapers for her baby boy, got him to the doctor for his well baby visits. It's how she bought him school clothes, and how she put braces on his teeth.

How she helped him get his first car and into college.

It is also how she built a business that gave her a sense of value and purpose. Everything that she parlayed into a career as a jewelry designer came from the money she made from learning about vintage jewelry and finding buyers for it. B'sue Boutiques as you know it today would not be here if learning to make money from vintage jewelry hadn't happened, first.

In Responsible Repurposing 101 you will learn:

---How to train yourself to first look at vintage jewelry for value and condition, rather than immediately think of how you would remake or take down the piece for parts.

---how to separate, or triage, a box of old jewelry for value as well as parts good for repurposing.

---You will be learning how to be careful to dispose of tags on old jewelry that is good for repurposing, not use parts of a design that include a logo, be aware of possible lead content and allergens in old pieces, especially old metal and chains.

---You'll learn about names and marks and will be given resources for researching them. We'll talk about what is very popular among today's collectors, and how the vintage jewelry trade is just as trendy as the fashion business.....because it remains to this day, part of the fashion business.

---What to do if a piece is substantial but unmarked.

---You will learn how to circa-date jewelry ( get the approximate age and design style of the piece).

---There will be a discussion of OLD PLASTICS, OLD METALS.....and, a bit about OLD BUTTONS!

---You will learn what to look for in NEW designer names. There are some that already have value on the secondary market, and others that soon will.

---You will learn how to establish a value according to current trend and price that piece to SELL!

---You will learn how to find and continue to find vintage jewelry.....and how to find BUYERS for it.

---You will learn about starting a small collection of your own.

---We will discuss the INSPIRATION FACTOR: what we can learn from designers that have gone before us.

---We'll talk about repurposing heirlooms into more wearable designs without damaging them...and also what to do when someone comes to us wanting us to alter an old piece that they possess but is very valuable.

That's just the tip of the iceberg!

We will also talk about potential value in unusual unsigned things we find along the way. This pendant was made by a local woodworker. It is like a miniature doll house under plexiglass. I bought it for about 50 cents.

I sold it for 50.00.....to someone who collects miniature work.

Interesting!

The class will last 4-6 weeks, depending on what students need. If we can cover all this territory in a month, then we will. If there is more to say and students still have questions and want to listen, I won't rush them off.

We will conduct the class at FACEBOOK in a private group made just for this purpose, the same way as the Build A Line Challenge class is held each year. The class is NOT project-driven. It will be structured discussion and you will have modules that you can print out for your own use, and put in a folder. There are NO BLOG HOPS, NO DEADLINES, NO REQUIREMENTS. You can come to class every day, or every few days and just scroll back and catch up with the discussion. You will be invited to post photos of things you have found, and would like to talk about. The class, being on Facebook, will not be held in real time, but you know how it is on Facebook! Our groups are chatty, and I expect the discussion to be brisk.

There is no application process for this class. First come, first served. I will accept up to 40 for the class group. The classroom has already been "built". As soon as payments are received, you will be asked to 'friend' me at Facebook, if you haven't already. That way I can place you in the class.

The class fee is 95.00 and worth every dime. It will be an eye-opener and turn you into a jewelry detective! And if you put the advice given into play, you will have much more cash in your pocket to get the things you really want to develop your jewelry design business.

Sign ups will begin Tuesday May 2, 2017. You can private message me at Facebook for a PayPal invoice, or call us at 1-800-868-4393 to make a payment by credit card. The classroom will be opened the last week of May and everyone will get an invitation to join us there.

Class will begin on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 and will wrap up in late August. In the summertime, we need to allow a little more time as people have events and vacations and we want them to be able to catch up. As mentioned, I won't be in a hurry to rush you off. If the class needs another week or two, they shall have it.

I can't wait to share the secrets of Responsible Repurposing with you! The things you learn will not only help your bottom line, but they will INSPIRE YOU as you learn new ways to view vintage design.

May 23, 2016

We were tired from all the learning, friendship and fun.... but glowing with happiness. B'sue Boutiques Workshops are a time to learn, but to do so in a relaxed atmosphere among friends who seem more like family.

Of course, this was Christi Friesen year, so the 'kids' were bouncing off the walls with excitement to see Christi again. She didn't let them down!

Christie Friesen, for those who don't know, is the Princess of Polymer Clay. She has written, what? 12 books on the subject! She teaches classes in exotic places like Japan and Australia, to name a few! Christi is quite in demand because she demonstrates that TRULY, anyone can play with clay and have success, right out of the gate.

Christi also takes note of everyone in the room and is available to all. She does not disappear into her hotel room at the end of class, but parties hearty, involved in everything everyone else is doing. She does that from early morning til late at night. Let's face it....Christi loves a party!

She even made herself a student in my Vintage Assemblage with Wire class! It looks like she was having a great time, too.

We learned so many things....how to make a little dragon with wings, such that it could easily be made into a brooch OR a figurine, as you like it. We learned how to make molds and use Sculpey Ultra Light Clay. I am so sold on that stuff now that soon I'll have it available at B'sue Boutiques

I was intrigued most by the dye-oxides as, being a vendor of brass stampings, I'd always concentrated on using the Patinas from the SWELLEGANT line:

Now it was my time to learn from the 'master' how much fun the dye oxides are with polymer clay!

This one is made from a mold I made, from one of our brass stampings...

Sculpey Ultra Light treated with metal coating, Tiffany Green Patina, and dye oxides, done in layers and buffed out with a piece of denim.

SO EASY and SO FUN to do! Thank you, Christi!

Some also made little owl pendants:

That one is from Janet Wilson, done up in true Chickie Girl style.

Here is Sue Shade's table, and everyone is hard at work. Sue came with her two delightful sisters!

They brought us carrot cake and brownies, too! YUMMY!

Here is a darling fairy box that Annette Carruthers made:

I'd like to thank Annette for taking so many of our group photos.

More pix thanks to Janet Calardo, who has come to every last one of our events!

We all owe a world of thanks to Katie Oskin (of Kater's Acres ) and her husband, Luke (Mr. Katie):

On Friday, there was so much clay baking going on that Katie logged 7 miles on her pedometer! Katie did all the running and baking this year, and honestly I don't know what we would have done without her.

Luke was around for needed support. Katie was so glad to have him there. We all were!

Christi's was a two day class, Friday and Saturday. Then I took Sunday for my class, Vintage Assemblage with Wire.

Many had requested that I introduce in person how to do the vintage Haskell-style assemblage using wire for attachments.

It is truly my passion!

The class paid rapt attention to my lecture and instructions...

We took a lot of candid, off the cuff photos....

But truth be told, they all did VERY well and everyone was very productive!

Here we are discussing a design issue and how to wire on a rose montee!

Later this week, I will have a post for you to show you the amazing pieces that were done in class. I was tremendously impressed that so many got a very quick feel for what needed to be done.

Each kit contained a builder and a backer piece and lots of bibs and bobs to adorn it, including some pretty vintage Czech beads and pearlies! Paula Gaskill, one of our pals who couldn't make it this year, contributed a polymer clay rose that was drilled horizontally through the base, so that it could be wired into the assemblage, if desired.

The goal was NOT to use any glue in the composition...BUT, each kit did include a small tube just in case it was truly needed.

At the end of the day on Sunday, everyone cleaned up their spots and got ready for the party!

That's what you see in one of the first pictures, ME feeding Christi a hunk of her CHOCOLATE CAKE....she is SUCH a chocoholic!

(me, too!)

Tired but quite happy, we all eventually pulled the plug and hit the hay. Every year, though, Mary Reckmeyer has to jump on the bed! This is this year's photo of the annual Mary jumping on the bed thing:

The next morning as many as could met for breakfast one last time....and it was good-bye til next year:

Left to right, Janise Crow, B'sue, Janet Calardo, and Virginia Michelini. Such good friends....

We hate to say good-bye.

Great news, though! We've booked the event for next year already, so mark your calendars for May 19, 20, 21, 2017.

Katie Oskin of Kater's Acres is a protogee of Christi Friesen's, having worked on many projects with her in the past. She is also a Polyform Designer (Polyform being the company that makes Sculpey and Premo, our favorite clays). She will be our polymer clay teacher for next year. You will LOVE her teaching style! I will be teaching a continuance of the Wire Assemblage class. There may be some other surprises along the way, I'll keep you posted about that.

Sign ups will be next February....be sure to join us at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group to keep abreast of the details as they come up. All business for B'sue Boutiques events and classes is conducted at Facebook and announced first to the Creative Group

We would also like to give a BIG SHOUT OUT of thanks to the Polyform Company, makers of Sculpey and Premo, for providing the polymer clay for our event this year. Thanks, Polyform!!

May 07, 2016

When you have happy campers like this, preparing a teaching event is a joy.

But I won't lie! It's a bunch of work. Honestly, I think planning a wedding would be easier. In the long run, though, the more you do it, the easier it gets, especially when you work with the staff at The Dutch Village Inn in Columbiana, Ohio.

The preparation for our yearly event begins about a month after the previous event is over! This is so that I can continue to have the same weekend every year, since it falls in the middle of the month and seems to be a good time for the majority of people.

We always get the large meeting room on the third floor:

By now, it seems like home to me! LOL

If I am bringing a special teacher in, that's done far in advance as well. All the particulars are worked out and their schedule is cleared to be at the event. A room is booked for them and a room block is established for the anticipated number of attendees. A special discounted room price is established by the Inn for those coming for the event.

This year we do have a special teacher, Christi Friesen:

She is ALL about the clay play.

Here's an idea of where we are going with her class this year:

ANYWAY.....

I meet with the event director, Kelly Witmer, a number of times during the year. We work out the seating, what sort of tables will be needed, what we will be doing in the room, drink service, food for our party, etc.

Here they are getting all the little kits ready for last year, back home in California:

They did a great job with their class and this is what we made (photo, Frances Grisafi)

Both are B'sue Boutiques Design Team members.

In February, I write the contract, post it in the special Event room that I create on Facebook, and then it's first come, first serve!

I always post it on a Saturday so that most will be free to call in their payments, or receive a PayPal invoice. I do all the book keeping for this event as well. This year, we filled up fast!

A few weeks after sign ups are complete I make extensive arrangements for liability insurance for the event. Then I pay all the remaining bills and I start packing. First I had to finish planning my class on vintage style assemblage with wire and pack the Discovery Kits. This is most of what is in them, although I did add a few more items before finishing them.

And here I am working with the stuff, getting my head around how to make this fun for everyone:

I also made a video last week, on some basics about this type of jewelry making:

If you are coming to the class, you will FOR SURE want to have a look at this video.

A couple of other links you might find helpful are a blog post by Heather Powers of Humble Beads: